howson



l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R.. HowfsoN a@ E. GROWE.

GOIN RELEASED SPIROMETER. No. 389,748.

Patented sept. "18', 1888-.

Inn :4.65751 MMM R. HOWSON 8 E. CROWB.

GON RELEASED SPIROMETER.

No. 889,748..." Patented Sept@ 18,1888.v

Z'nv

N. PETERS. Phom-Lhhognpher, Walhngtn, DAL

' y UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE.

RICHARDfHowsoN AND EDWARD oRowE, or MIDDLEsRRoUGHoN-TEEs, COUNTY orYORK, ENGLAND.

COIN-RELEASED SPIROMETER.

sPEcIPrcA'i- IQN forming part or Letters Patentino. 389,748, earedseptember 18, laca.

' Application med Mtb-31,18%. serial No. 275,585. (No modmratenteuinrmnce september 22,1881, No. 186,019, and in Belgium september 27',iss-1, No. 79,018.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, RICHARD HowsoN and EDWARD CROWN, engineers,subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing atMiddlesbrough-on-,Tees, in the county of York, England, have invented anew and useful Improved Spirometer or Lung-Testing Appa: ratus, (forwhich we have obtained patents in@ France, No. 186,019, bearing dateSeptemberl 22, 1887, and in Belgium, No. 79,018, bearing date September27,'1887,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of an improved spirometer orapparatus for testing the lungs by means of a'pressure gage actuatedthrough lthe medium of a mouthpiece and blow-pipe, which are constructedand'arranged in the ordinary manner; and this invention consists inarranging in combination therewith-certain mechanism which will preventthe gage with which the apparatus is provided being acted upon until acoin has been introduced into a slot or receptacle provided for itsreception.

We will now describe our invention with reference to the'accompanying'drawings, in which the same letters of reference indicate like parts inall the gures.

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a back view of thesame with the back of the case removed and part of the mechanism insection; and Fig. 3 is a side view with the side of the case removed andpart of the mechanism in section. In the last figure the lever G isremoved; but the pivot g2, on which the same is mounted, is shown.

The mechanism constituting the subject of this invention is arrangedwithin a case, A. The mouthpiece B is connected by the blowing-tube bwith the cylinder C, in which the piston d is arranged to work freely.In the side of the said cylinder is an air-passage, e, leadingto thepressure-gage F. To the upper face of the piston d is attached thespindle d', which passes through an aperture in the cover of thecylinder. lWhen the mechanism is in its normal or locked position, thepiston d rests on a seat at the bottom of the cylinder C and closes theinlet-orifice, and it is retained in that position by a catch, g, whichforms part of the rocking lever G, of which g2 is the pivot. The coverof the cylinder C is perforated to allow of the escape of any air whichmay be forced past the said piston when the same is locked, as lastlydescribed. One end of the lever G is counterweighted, and to theopposite end is attached the shelving-plate g. The lever I-I, which ispivoted to the lastmentioned end of the lever G, is counterweighted atone end and is turned up or provided with a projecting stop at theopposite end'. The lever H is so arranged in reference to the spindledthat the latter in its upward movement will come into contact with theweighted end of thersaid lever and will turn it on its pivot, wherebythe coin is released, as hereinafter described. I is the chute downwhich the coin passes from the slotin the case A tothe shelving-plateg'.

The action of the mechanism hereinbefore described is as follows: Whenthe mechanism is in its normal position, the piston d is retained by thecatch g against its seat at the lower .end of the cylinder C;consequently the air-inlet is closed. On a coin being passed through theslot 7c it slides down the chute I onto the shelving-plate g',wherc itis retained for the time by the turned-up end of the lever II. Theweight of the said coin overbalances the counter-weight and causes thelever G to turn on its pivot, whereby the catch g is disengaged from theend of the spindle d. On air being blown through the tube bthe piston drises to the top of the cylinder C, closes the perforations thereimandopens the passage e, through which the air passes to the gage. In itsupward movement the spindled catches the-leverHand, turning it on itspivot, causes the turned-up end thereof to be moved from the end of theshelving-plate g', thus allowing the coin to slide off, the consequencebeing that on the descent of the piston the lever G resumes its normalposition and again looks the mechanism.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to confine thisinvention to the exact details hereinbefore described, as they admit ofmany modifications. For instance, a flexible diaphragm or a hinged valvemay be substituted for the piston d, and springs may be IOO used insteadof counterwvcights. Vith regard to the pressuregage, we havehcreinbefore re- Ierred to it as an ordinary dial-gage; but, if desired,a mercurial column might be substituted therefor.

What we claim is- L In a spirometcr or lung-tcslcr, the combination,with the pressuregage and with the air tube or passage leading thereto,of a valve located in said tube or passage to open and close the same,and a movable stop connected with a connterwcighted lever forlockingsaid valve while the lever is controlled by the counter-weight and forunlocking it when the counter-Weight is overbalanced, substantially asset forth.

.2. In spironieters or lungtesters, the comblnationmith thepressure-gage and with the tube or passage leading thereto, of a valvelocated in said passage to open and close the saine, and acounterweighted lever provided with a stop which locks the valve whilethe lever is controlled by the counter-Weight, said lever being providedwith a plate or receptacle adapted to receive and hold a coin or Weightto overbalanee the counter-weight and unlock the valve, substantially asset forth.

3. In spirometers or lung-testers, the com` bination,with thepressi'xregage and with the tube or passage leading thereto, ol` a valvelocated in said passage to open and close the same, a pivotedcounterweighted lever provided with a stop or shoulder which locks thevalve and closes the tube or passage While the lever is controlled bythe counter-weight, and a secondary lever pivoted to said counter-Weighted lever and carrying a plate or receptacle adapted to receive andhold a coin or Weight for overbalancinr the counter-Weight, the end ofsaid secondary lever standing normally in the path of a stem of thevalve,where by the movement of the latter will trip the said lever anddischarge the coin er weight from its plate or receptacle, substantiallyas shown and described.

4. In spirometcrs or lungtesters, the combination, with thepressure-gage and with the tube or passage leading thereto, the latterbeing provided with avalve-chamber and valve, of a couuterweightedlever, G, pivoted above the valve-chamber and having an arm or shoulderwhich in the normal position of parts stands above the projecties:r stemof the valve and holds the latter to its seat, a secondary lever, H,pivoted to the lever Gand carrying at one end a plate or receptacle toreceive and hold a coin or weight to overbalauee the counter-weight oflever G and tilt the latter, whereby the valve is released and allowedto risc und trip the said secondary lever to discharge the coin orWeight from its receptacle, and a chute leading from an aperture in theease to the plate or receptacle en the second arylever,substantiallyasshown anddescribed.

ln Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day olApril, 1888.

RICHARD HOWSON. EDWARD CROXVE. Witnesses:

WM. Poaarrr INGHAM, Engineer, Quecns Square, IlIiddZcsbroum//t 0n- Tecs.

FRED lSARRATr, Solicizofs Clerk, BIddZcsbr/utgh.

